A Nigerian pastor has sparked a heated debate after he allegedly imposed an unusual form of discipline on church members who arrived late for church services. According to a viral post circulating on X (formerly Twitter), the pastor allegedly ordered all latecomers to kneel at the entrance of the church as a form of punishment before being allowed to join the congregation.
The video attached to the post shows a shocking scene: several people dressed in their Sunday best kneeling in front of a building that appears to be a church. The caption under the post further explains that the pastor believes that strict discipline is necessary to instill punctuality and respect for the house of God.
As expected, the video sparked a huge debate on social media platforms, with many Nigerians expressing their views. Some users supported the pastor’s strict stance, arguing that punctuality at religious meetings should be enforced in the same way as in workplaces and schools. Others, however, have strongly condemned the act, calling it humiliating and questioning whether such extreme measures are in line with biblical teachings.
“Is this a church or a military camp? wrote one commenter, while another added: Discipline is good, but people kneeling outside the church is too much. Shouldn’t God’s house be a place of love and acceptance?
The incident has reignited debates about discipline in a religious context, the role of priests in enforcing order, and whether such measures cross the line into public shaming. Meanwhile, some people have dismissed the entire situation as a mere social media sensation and are urging caution before jumping to conclusions.
While mixed reactions continue to pour in, one thing is clear – this priest’s methods have not gone unnoticed. As the story unfolds, many are wondering: Is this a legitimate way to maintain discipline, or has the church gone too far?
Watch the video below:
Sheybi una dey see 😭🧎🏻♂️➡️ pic.twitter.com/azFQmIdZbU
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) February 16, 2025
